Coronavirus and DCL Megathread - Suspension of Departures for the fleet until early November. Booking only available from early December.

[DisneyWishes14]

I expect the travel bans to be lifted by June/July. European airlines are risk of collapse just like US airlines. European Union is at risk of collapse too. We’re all screwed if things don’t go back to normal soon.

If you mean any bans within Schengen, you may be right. I don't think Europe, many countries in Asia or Australia are going to be allowing US citizens in for far longer than that. I don't think the US testing and tracing are far enough along to make those countries comfortable with allowing us in. Heck, I'm in the NYC metro area and most US states don't want me anywhere near them at this point in time.

 

[cmph]

I'm surprised by the thought that Americans rarely know anyone who has lost someone to COVID-19. I have a small department at work (just a couple dozen of us), and one colleague lost his sister-in-law (30s, nothing to make her high risk). A friend from my old neighborhood just lost her dad. Both of the deceased where in the NYC/NJ area. I'm an introvert who keeps a pretty small social circle, although I do not live where I grew up (midwest) or went to college (east coast), so I guess that gives me a wide geographic circle. I know others who have had it but did not pass away.

I'm with the PP who thinks that domestic travel, especially road trips, will become more popular. In the US, we have so many options, too. We had changed a spring break cruise to a 2021 Norway cruise (Royal), with extended family, and already my mom says they will no longer go. Everyone seems to be focusing on when cruising will return to normal and/or survive, but I think that's too broad. DCL will be fine, but that's b/c its demographic isn't primarily high risk! That's not the case with HAL, river cruises that are adults-only, etc. The traveler response is going to be so different from one cruiseline to the next.

 

[DIS_MIKE]

just reported. Royal and Celebrity extending cancellations to June 12th.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/ne...se-cancellations/ar-BB12N0cG?ocid=hplocalnews

Looks like June is definitely shot at this point but not surprising after the CDC extended their no sail order by 100 days. I'm really curious to see what happens in July and August and if the CDC will follow up.

 

[GrrArrgh]

My feeling is that all of 2020 is done for cruising. Just even in terms of recalling employees, getting food, readying ships, and making new policy changes, that kind of thing would take at least a month or two. So working backwards, it's hard for me to imagine cruising would start again for anyone until 2021.

 

[figmentfinesse]

I’m sorry if this is the wrong place for this question. I’m booked for a 3 night on the Fantasy in late August, VGT. If the cruise actually sails, but we don’t feel comfortable or don’t want to sail if they take away the shows and other experiences, are we out of luck because it’s non refundable? Thanks guys. This is my second Disney Cruise ever so I’m far from the expert here.

 

[smmco]

I'm surprised by the thought that Americans rarely know anyone who has lost someone to COVID-19. I have a small department at work (just a couple dozen of us), and one colleague lost his sister-in-law (30s, nothing to make her high risk). A friend from my old neighborhood just lost her dad. Both of the deceased where in the NYC/NJ area. I'm an introvert who keeps a pretty small social circle, although I do not live where I grew up (midwest) or went to college (east coast), so I guess that gives me a wide geographic circle. I know others who have had it but did not pass away.

I'm with the PP who thinks that domestic travel, especially road trips, will become more popular. In the US, we have so many options, too. We had changed a spring break cruise to a 2021 Norway cruise (Royal), with extended family, and already my mom says they will no longer go. Everyone seems to be focusing on when cruising will return to normal and/or survive, but I think that's too broad. DCL will be fine, but that's b/c its demographic isn't primarily high risk! That's not the case with HAL, river cruises that are adults-only, etc. The traveler response is going to be so different from one cruiseline to the next.

I bet everyone knows someone who's lost their job. Cases in Europe and US are decreasing. I don't foresee any travel bans in two or three months. Road trips will probably increase because gas is so darn cheap. I think most people are chomping at the bit to go somewhere, by plane, train, ship or auto. There's going to a percentage of people that will stay holed up in their house, but I think the majority of people want to work and live their life. Tomorrow is never guaranteed.

 

[DIS_MIKE]

My feeling is that all of 2020 is done for cruising. Just even in terms of recalling employees, getting food, readying ships, and making new policy changes, that kind of thing would take at least a month or two. So working backwards, it's hard for me to imagine cruising would start again for anyone until 2021.

You bring up a very good point and at this rate it's anyone's guess at this point. The amount of planning and logistics needed to get these ships back to 100% likely will take a lot of time. I've said it a few times on here but WDW will open a lot sooner than the first Disney ship sets sail.

I have a little hope that my cruise at the end of August will still be a go. There will be a lot of factors to consider and now we're pretty much into July before the next wave of updates from the cruise lines.

 

[randumb0]

No country is going to allow American tourists until our infection rate drops dramatically. They all have their own problems to deal with. I am very doubtful that cruises sail this year

 

[Karin1984]

No country is going to allow American tourists until our infection rate drops dramatically. They all have their own problems to deal with. I am very doubtful that cruises sail this year

Definitely true for Europe and Canada, maybe Mexico, but I think the islands in the Caribbean which are more dependent on tourism, might have to open their doors to cruise tourists whether they want it or not.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Definitely true for Europe and Canada, maybe Mexico, but I think the islands in the Caribbean which are more dependent on tourism, might have to open their doors to cruise tourists whether they want it or not.

They made it through hurricane. I think they can make it through this. Viral outbreak on an island is ugly.

 

[Chrissy-Mickey]

My brother is theatre technician and this week he made this picture, trying to figure out how to make theater work in a 6ft society. In his theatre there are 700 seats. With the distancing rules, there is only room for 135 guests.

Thanks for sharing that. Now the big question is: do they lose more money by staying closed vs. opening and performing for only 135 guests.

And that question I am sure most companies are asking themselves at the moment. WDW... do they still make a profit on hurricane days? These are days when a large section of Florida closes its schools, and I go to Disney. Those days are crazy quiet, and I think social distancing with that number of guests is possible.

The same thing with DCL: Take last year's cruise that had the least amount of guests onboard. Did they still make a profit? Is social distancing an option with that number of guests? This of course in addition to the question, is there a foreign port that will let us dock.

 

[vegs1]

I keep trying to think through how DCL would Social distance. You can sit people far enough apart in the theatre technically, but everyone has to filter in through the doors. Staying six feet apart would be difficult.

How would the life boat drill be handled? Pool time? Shows in the atrium? The corridors are so narrow that it would be difficult in high traffic areas to stay apart. Your stateroom host has access to your room. What about room service? Would that be discontinued?

The whole experience would be so different.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I’m sorry if this is the wrong place for this question. I’m booked for a 3 night on the Fantasy in late August, VGT. If the cruise actually sails, but we don’t feel comfortable or don’t want to sail if they take away the shows and other experiences, are we out of luck because it’s non refundable? Thanks guys. This is my second Disney Cruise ever so I’m far from the expert here.

Unless DCL makes some kind of exception, you would not get a refund. The only time I ever got a refund from DCL on a non-refundable deposit was when they substantially changed a DCL Magic European itinerary a few years ago which was originally supposed to sail to Greece and Turkey. They actually, contractually, didn't have to give me a refund, but they made exceptions on that sailing. If your ship sails, DCL is under no obligation to give you a refund if you choose not to go. No ship experience (shows, fireworks, etc.) is guaranteed on any sailing.

 

[figmentfinesse]

Unless DCL makes some kind of exception, you would not get a refund. The only time I ever got a refund from DCL on a non-refundable deposit was when they substantially changed a DCL Magic European itinerary a few years ago which was originally supposed to sail to Greece and Turkey. They actually, contractually, didn't have to give me a refund, but they made exceptions on that sailing. If your ship sails, DCL is under no obligation to give you a refund if you choose not to go. No ship experience (shows, fireworks, etc.) is guaranteed on any sailing.

Thank you for the information! I figured that would likely be the case.

 

[Karin1984]

Thanks for sharing that. Now the big question is: do they lose more money by staying closed vs. opening and performing for only 135 guests.

And that question I am sure most companies are asking themselves at the moment. WDW... do they still make a profit on hurricane days? These are days when a large section of Florida closes its schools, and I go to Disney. Those days are crazy quiet, and I think social distancing with that number of guests is possible.

The same thing with DCL: Take last year's cruise that had the least amount of guests onboard. Did they still make a profit? Is social distancing an option with that number of guests? This of course in addition to the question, is there a foreign port that will let us dock.

I keep trying to think through how DCL would Social distance. You can sit people far enough apart in the theatre technically, but everyone has to filter in through the doors. Staying six feet apart would be difficult.

How would the life boat drill be handled? Pool time? Shows in the atrium? The corridors are so narrow that it would be difficult in high traffic areas to stay apart. Your stateroom host has access to your room. What about room service? Would that be discontinued?

The whole experience would be so different.

My brother's theater is closed at the moment, and indeed how you would handle things like intermissions (no issue for DCL shows) is one problem to solve.
But if we go by 700 people in one space have to be reduced to 135, meaning it would be possible when you have 20% of your guests. Of course a cruise ship is bigger than a theater, and guests can be more spread out. I think it might be possible to sail with a 40% capacity. So aboout 1.100 guests on the Magic & Wonder, and about 1.600 guests on the Dream & Fantasy.

But to make this work, before a vaccination is ready, there will be medical checks before boarding.
So Port will have to open earlier = longer waits before boarding.
I can also see delayed embarkation, to take extra time for cleaning between the guests disembarking and embarking.

Maybe to add a third show of the Broadway shows, cap the amount of guests in the theater and the movie theater, cap to the amount of people in the pools. Block two sunbeds between guests. Families have to stand 6ft apart for drills. Same for the Sail Away Party and Pirates Show (etc)
Maybe even a cap on amount of children on board, per age group, to make sure the kids clubs aren't overloaded.
And maybe to spread guests better during dinner to also have always have Cabanas open for dinner. Two sit down restaurants open during lunch.
Only fur characters to meet, no face characters, so this would cancel many Marvel & Star Wars meets. No roaming characters.

Would it be profitable, definitely not, however, according to some companies it's better to make a loss for a short period to survive this crisis and to keep going.

 

[DIS_MIKE]

I keep trying to think through how DCL would Social distance. You can sit people far enough apart in the theatre technically, but everyone has to filter in through the doors. Staying six feet apart would be difficult.

How would the life boat drill be handled? Pool time? Shows in the atrium? The corridors are so narrow that it would be difficult in high traffic areas to stay apart. Your stateroom host has access to your room. What about room service? Would that be discontinued?

The whole experience would be so different.

I think the only way they could do it would be by cutting the occupancy in half and limiting cruise passengers but even that would mean major loses for DCL. How would you even go swimming? It just seems like a major hurdle to overcome. Theme parks are one thing but social distancing on a cruise ship... so hard to implement. and control. It would be a completely different experience...but we keep hearing "the new normal" but we just haven't seen what all that will entail onboard yet.

 

[vegs1]

I think the only way they could do it would be by cutting the occupancy in half and limiting cruise passengers but even that would mean major loses for DCL. How would you even go swimming? It just seems like a major hurdle to overcome. Theme parks are one thing but social distancing on a cruise ship... so hard to implement. and control. It would be a completely different experience...but we keep hearing "the new normal" but we just haven't seen what all that will entail onboard yet.

I don’t like “the new normal” but as you say, we haven’t seen what that looks like yet. I guess through the ages, people have had to adapt to their situation and we will, too! It’s going to be interesting to watch it all unfold to say the least.

 

[Karin1984]

I think the only way they could do it would be by cutting the occupancy in half and limiting cruise passengers but even that would mean major loses for DCL. How would you even go swimming? It just seems like a major hurdle to overcome. Theme parks are one thing but social distancing on a cruise ship... so hard to implement. and control. It would be a completely different experience...but we keep hearing "the new normal" but we just haven't seen what all that will entail onboard yet.

This article was published yesterday in my country. You can either use Google Translate or just look at the pictures It's not the new normal, but it is a phase between now and the new normal I guess. What to do to get out of the lockdown, before a vaccin is available. I think after there is a vaccin and the majority of the country (70-90%) is vaccinated we can go back to the old normal.

All industries have been asked how they would see their exit strategy, what is possible in a 6ft society. For restaurant a suggestion is to work with a 'take-out' table in the center of the room. When food is ready, the server places the food on the take-out table, and then you get up and pick up the food from the take-out table to your own table. For gyms it's less equipment and marking areas of 6ft. For themeparks they also think attendance will have to go down by 50%.

https://nos.nl/artikel/2330828-dit-zijn-de-eerste-contouren-van-de-anderhalvemetermaatschappij.html1: Movie theater
2: Gym
3: Theater
4: Theme park
5: Restaurant
6: College/University.

 

[Starwind]

Genting Cruise Lines has released a statement announcing their enhanced measures, which appear to be the first cruise line to do so: http://gentingcruiselines.com/media...rds-for-the-fleet-and-the-cruise-industry.pdf

Will be interesting to see if other cruise lines follow suit and whether they are even stronger...

SW

 

[BadPinkTink]

Genting Cruise Lines has released a statement announcing their enhanced measures, which appear to be the first cruise line to do so: http://gentingcruiselines.com/media...rds-for-the-fleet-and-the-cruise-industry.pdf

Will be interesting to see if other cruise lines follow suit and whether they are even stronger...

SW

copying and pasting the most important info

I. Embarkation and Disembarkation
a. Mandatory temperature screening and pre-boarding health declarations for all guests
b. Infrared fever screening system at the ship gangway
c. Higher frequency with increased levels of sanitization and disinfection at the ship
gangway and passenger walkways
d. Stringent checks for all embarking individuals including crew travel documents;
guests aged 70 years & above to provide a doctor’s certificate of fitness for travel
e. Online check-in for guests to receive designated arrival time at the cruise terminal to
minimize crowd congestion
f. Additional waiting areas for cruise boarding & disembarkation (with staggered times)
g. Compliance with all local port and health authorities’ regulations
II. Guest accommodations
a. Higher frequency with increased levels of sanitization and disinfection in guest cabins
with hospital grade disinfectants, including:
i. Twice daily wipe-down of guest cabins and guests cabin corridors
ii. Fogging of vacant guest cabins and guests cabin corridors
b. Clean and disinfect guest bathrooms with heavy-duty alkaline bathroom cleaner and
disinfectant.
c. Timely removal of food items from cabins to prevent spoilage and cultivation of
microorganisms and bacteria.
d. Timely housekeeping cabin turnover; bedsheets and linens professionally cleaned
and disinfected at high temperatures
e. Injection of diluted cleaning solution into drains to avoid clogged pipes and to prevent
bacterial growth
f. In case of sickness, thorough cleaning and disinfection with hospital grade
disinfectant and fogging the cabin after.
III. Common Public Areas
a. All public areas on board will undergo a two-tier sanitization process with thorough
cleansing, fogging and wiping using hospital grade disinfectant. On-board Ship
Venues and Cleaning Frequency:
 Elevators: Every 2 hours
 Public areas and facilities: 2 – 10 times daily
 Spa and amenities: Min 2 times daily
 Other Public Areas: To adjust disinfection frequency accordingly
b. Common public areas will be sanitized from once daily to 2 - 4 times daily and
frequent touchpoints such as handrails, lift buttons, table-tops, door handles etc. will
be sterilized every hour or less during peak hours (Embarkation & Disembarkation
time, returning from shore excursions, meal periods)
c. Frequent usage of heavy-duty neutral PH floor-cleaning agent to disinfect all floor
areas of the ship
d. Sanitizer dispensers available at various public areas and crew members stationed
at key on board venues to provide hand sanitation.
IV. Food Hygiene Practices & Standards
a. F&B restaurants / bar areas, including galleys, will be cleaned and sanitized 3 times
daily, during and after service
b. Guests are encouraged to wash hands before entry and use sanitizer dispensers
available at F&B outlet entrances/exits
c. Guest seating will ensure ample spacing; disposable cutlery will be provided, upon
request.
d. Self-service at F&B buffet restaurants will be suspended. All food & beverages will be
served to guests by crew members wearing face masks & disposable gloves.
e. Culinary use of wild animals and related products are strictly prohibited.
f. Stringent procurement guidelines will be enforced and product sourcing from highly
affected regions will be strictly prohibited.
4
V. Entertainment and Recreational Activities
a. Theatres will be sanitized before and after each show; 3D glasses disinfected before
and after guest usage (if applicable)
b. Cleaning and disinfection of all toys, games and Kids’ Club facilities twice daily
and/or after every use.
c. All duty-free shops and entertainment venues will be disinfected twice daily before
and after service.
d. All recreational equipment will be disinfected every 2 hours before guest usage
e. Guests capacity will be limited to half the venue capacity to provide ample space
between guests
f. Sanitizer dispensers will be readily available at various venues including
entertainment venue entrances/exits.
g. Tour coaches will be limited to half capacity & sanitized frequently; training for tour
operators based on guidance from the WHO.
h. Spa & Gym facilities will be sanitized prior to and after usage by guests.
VI. Fresh Air Ventilation Systems
a. 100% external fresh air is filtered and supplied to passenger cabins and on board
public areas
b. Air filters and cooling coils thoroughly checked, cleaned and replaced to ensure
healthy air quality.
VII. Medical Centre
a. Isolated wards available in the Medical Centre
b. Contaminated items and medical waste will be properly sealed and disposed
according to health and safety guidelines.
c. Used face masks and protective equipment disposed at designated central collection
points.
d. Medical equipment and waste bins cleaned, disinfected and washed twice daily with
hospital grade disinfectant.
VIII. Crew Members Practices & Standards
a. Twice daily temperature checks.
b. All Frontline crew are required to wear face masks
c. Housekeeping and F&B crew required to wear disposable gloves.
d. Designated crew may also wear protective garments and eye protection if required.
e. All crew to use anti-bacterial hand soap for at least 20 sec to sanitize hands.
f. Medical Centre Isolation Area staff related to suspected cases are required to:
i. wear adequate personal protection (face mask, eye protection, disposable
gloves & disposal outer garment)
ii. follow proper hand washing practices before and after work duty
iii. update personal health information daily.
g. Provide Training Workshops and pertinent information on health and safety
preventive measures
h. Reduction of crew movement